Maybe. It depends how high your blood pressure is. You shouldn't lift weights if your blood pressure is uncontrolled and higher than 180/110 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). If your blood pressure is higher than 160/100 mm Hg, check with your doctor before starting a weightlifting program to discuss any precautions or special considerations.

Weightlifting can cause a temporary increase in blood pressure. This increase can be dramatic, depending on how much weight you lift. But, weightlifting can also have long-term benefits to blood pressure that outweigh the risk of a temporary spike for most people.

Regular exercise, including moderate weightlifting, provides many health benefits, including helping to lower blood pressure in the long term.

If you have high blood pressure, talk to your doctor before starting any exercise program. Your doctor can help you develop an exercise program tailored to your needs and medical conditions.

If you have high blood pressure, here are some tips for getting started on a weightlifting program:

• Learn and use proper form when lifting to reduce the risk of injury.
• Don't hold your breath. Holding your breath during exertion can cause dangerous spikes in blood pressure. Instead, breathe easily and continuously during each lift.
• Lift lighter weights more times. Heavier weights require more strain, which can cause a greater increase in blood pressure. You can challenge your muscles with lighter weights by increasing the number of repetitions you lift.
• Alternate between upper and lower body exercises to let your muscles rest during exercise.

Whether you do weightlifting before or after an aerobic workout is up to you. Research hasn't definitively shown that one way is better than another.

Consider some of the factors that fuel the debate about when to do weightlifting:

• Weightlifting can deplete the glycogen stores in your muscles. Glycogen stores provide you with energy for short-duration intense activity and longer duration endurance activity.

  If you do weightlifting first, you may find that you're too tired to complete a more intense aerobic workout.

• An aerobic workout can be a good warmup for weightlifting. If you do your aerobic workout first, make sure that you're not too tired to lift weights with proper form. Poor weightlifting technique could increase the risk of injury.
• Oxygen use may be the same whether you do aerobic or resistance exercise first. Some studies found that the order of aerobic and resistance exercise during the same session may not affect how much oxygen is used or limit how much aerobic exercise can be done.

The bottom line about weightlifting first or second? If you want to include both weightlifting and aerobic exercise in the same workout, experiment to find what works best for you, your fitness level and your fitness goals.

For instance, you could make either your aerobic workout or your weightlifting workout less intense. Or you could consider doing your weightlifting and aerobic workouts on different days.

Functional foods are foods that have a potentially positive effect on health beyond basic nutrition. Proponents of functional foods say they promote optimal health and help reduce the risk of disease.

A familiar example of a functional food is oatmeal because it contains soluble fiber that can help lower cholesterol levels. Some foods are modified to have health benefits. An example is orange juice that's been fortified with calcium for bone health.

The Food and Drug Administration regulates the claims that manufacturers can make about functional foods' nutrient content and effects on disease, health or body function.

If you want to try functional foods, choose wisely. And keep in mind that while functional foods may help promote wellness, they can't make up for poor eating habits.

When used as directed by your doctor, opioid medications safely help control acute pain, such as pain you experience after surgery. There are risks, though, when the medications are used incorrectly.

What opioid medications do

Opioids are a broad group of pain-relieving drugs that work by interacting with opioid receptors in your cells. Opioids can be made from the poppy plant — for example, morphine (Kadian, Ms Contin, others) — or synthesized in a laboratory — for example, fentanyl (Actiq, Duragesic, others).

When opioid medications travel through your blood and attach to opioid receptors in your brain cells, the cells release signals that muffle your perception of pain and boost your feelings of pleasure.

When opioid medications are dangerous

What makes opioid medications effective for treating pain can also make them dangerous.

At lower doses, opioids may make you feel sleepy, but higher doses can slow your breathing and heart rate, which can lead to death. And the feelings of pleasure that result from taking an opioid can make you want to continue experiencing those feelings, which may lead to addiction.

You can reduce your risk of dangerous side effects by following your doctor's instructions carefully and taking your medication exactly as prescribed. Make sure your doctor knows all of the other medications and supplements you're taking.

Superbugs are strains of bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi that are resistant to most of the antibiotics and other medications commonly used to treat the infections they cause. A few examples of superbugs include resistant bacteria that can cause pneumonia, urinary tract infections and skin infections.

Drug resistance (antimicrobial resistance) is a naturally occurring phenomenon that can be slowed, but not stopped. Over time, germs such as bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi adapt to the drugs that are designed to kill them and change to ensure their survival. This makes previously standard treatments for some infections less effective, and sometimes ineffective. Researchers continue to evaluate how these germs develop resistance. They also study how to diagnose, treat and prevent antimicrobial resistance.

Certain actions may step up the appearance and spread of antimicrobial-resistant germs, such as:

• Using or misusing antibiotics
• Having poor infection prevention and control practices
• Living or working in unclean conditions
• Mishandling food

To protect yourself from harmful germs and lower the risk of illnesses:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• Handle food properly, such as separating raw and cooked food, cooking food thoroughly, and using clean water
• Avoid close contact with people who are ill
• Make sure your vaccinations are up to date

You can also help tackle antibiotic resistance by:

• Using antibiotics as directed and only when needed
• Completing the full treatment course, even if you feel better
• Not sharing antibiotics with others
• Not using leftover prescriptions

The round ligaments are a pair of cordlike structures in the pelvis that help support the uterus by connecting the front of the uterus to the groin region. During pregnancy, pain in the location of the round ligaments is common. As pregnancy progresses, the round ligaments become softer and might stretch. It's believed that pain associated with the round ligaments might be caused by the tightening or spasm of the ligaments or irritation of nearby nerve fibers.

Round ligament pain typically is experienced on the right side of the abdomen or pelvis, but discomfort can also occur on the left or both sides. The pain often occurs upon waking and rolling over in bed or during rapid movement or vigorous activity.

To relieve round ligament pain, try gentle stretching and changing your position. Avoid rapid or repetitive movement. Flexing your hips before you cough or sneeze might also provide relief. No medication is necessary. Taking acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) might help, however.

Pain in the lower abdomen can have other causes, too — some serious. If you have pain accompanied by fever or chills, pain with urination, pain with bleeding, or moderate or severe pain, call your health care provider.

Dates on food packages are intended to ensure quality — not safety. They aren't required by law. (Some exceptions exist, such as infant formula.)

So what do they mean?

• Sell by. This date tells the grocer how long to display the product for sale. You should buy the product before the date is past.
• Best if used by (or before). This date is recommended for best flavor or quality. It is not a purchase or safety date.
• Use by. This date indicates quality; there may be a decline in quality after this date. This date is set by the manufacturer.
• Closed or coded dates. These are packing numbers for use by the manufacturer. These may be used in food recalls.

Rather than relying on these dates, make it a habit to use or freeze perishable food within a few days of purchase. Freezing ensures safety indefinitely. However, quality will decline over time.

If you have heart failure, you need to know how to quickly spot the early warning signs and symptoms of worsening disease — and what to do if any changes occur. You might wonder: Should you simply call your doctor if a change occurs? Or do you need to go straight to a hospital? Knowing what to do and when can be challenging and may be overwhelming if you don't have a strategy in place.

That's why cardiologists recommend that everyone with heart failure have an action plan to help guide their self-care at home. A heart failure action plan — or self-check plan — provides clear instructions for you and your caregivers to follow should any new signs or symptoms develop. Together you and your doctor can customize a plan that's best for your specific type and class of heart failure and your functional abilities.

According to the American Heart Association, a typical plan may fall into three zones:

• Green = Stable. You don't have any noticeable changes in heart failure signs or symptoms. Your weight is stable. You don't have chest pain or shortness of breath. Continue your daily weight checks and treatment plan as recommended. Ask your doctor for your target weight.
• Yellow = Warning. Call your doctor if you have a new cough, shortness of breath with activity, increased swelling in your legs or feet, or if you suddenly gain 2 to 5 pounds within a week. You don't necessarily need an office visit but caution is needed. You may just need diet or medication changes.
• Red = Danger. Go to the emergency room or call your local emergency number if you have heart failure and have a weight gain of more than 5 pounds in a week, an inability to lie flat, shortness of breath at rest, increased swelling and discomfort in the lower body, or a constant, hacking cough.

Carefully following your action plan can help your doctor more quickly treat any new health issues that develop and better manage your care. Sticking to your self-care or action plans may result in fewer hospital admissions or shorter hospital stays, particularly if you are under age 65.

Also, be sure to tell your doctor if you are feeling sad or depressed. Depression may make it difficult to stick to your action plan and overall treatment. Proper treatment may help you feel better.

BPA stands for bisphenol A. BPA is an industrial chemical that has been used to make certain plastics and resins since the 1960s.

BPA is found in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. Polycarbonate plastics are often used in containers that store food and beverages, such as water bottles. They may also be used in other consumer goods.

Epoxy resins are used to coat the inside of metal products, such as food cans, bottle tops and water supply lines. Some dental sealants and composites also may contain BPA.

Some research has shown that BPA can seep into food or beverages from containers that are made with BPA. Exposure to BPA is a concern because of possible health effects of BPA on the brain and prostate gland of fetuses, infants and children. It can also affect children's behavior. Additional research suggests a possible link between BPA and increased blood pressure.

However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has said that BPA is safe at the very low levels that occur in some foods. This assessment is based on review of hundreds of studies. The FDA continues to monitor the research.

If you're concerned about BPA, you can take steps to reduce your exposure:

• Use BPA-free products. Manufacturers are creating more and more BPA-free products. Look for products labeled as BPA-free. If a product isn't labeled, keep in mind that some, but not all, plastics marked with recycle codes 3 or 7 may be made with BPA.
• Cut back on cans. Reduce your use of canned foods.
• Avoid heat. Don't put polycarbonate plastics in the microwave or dishwasher, because the heat may break them down over time and allow BPA to leach into foods.
• Use alternatives. Use glass, porcelain or stainless steel containers for hot foods and liquids instead of plastic containers.

Chikungunya (chik-un-GUN-yuh) is a viral illness transmitted by mosquitoes that causes the sudden onset of fever and severe joint pain. Other signs and symptoms may include fatigue, muscle pain, headache and rash. Signs and symptoms of chikungunya usually appear within two to seven days after being bitten by an infected mosquito.

No vaccine exists to prevent chikungunya fever, and there's no effective antiviral treatment. However, the disease runs a limited course and rarely causes serious complications. Treatment is aimed at relieving symptoms with rest, fluids and medications — such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) — to relieve joint pain and fever.

Where is it found?

Chikungunya outbreaks were first reported in Africa, Asia, Europe, and islands in the Indian and Pacific ocean. The first reported case of chikungunya in the Americas occurred in 2013, on islands in the Caribbean.

Since then, more than 1.7 million suspected cases of chikungunya have been reported in the Caribbean islands, in Latin American countries and in the United States. Canada and Mexico also have reported cases of infection.

How concerned should I be?

Most people recover fully, with symptoms resolving in three to 10 days. For some people, joint pain may continue for months, or even years. Death from complications of chikungunya is very rare, but the virus sometimes causes severe problems, mostly in older adults with other chronic illnesses. People who have been infected once are likely to be protected from future infections.

If you're traveling to an area with known outbreaks of chikungunya, take precautions. Because chikungunya is not transmitted from human to human, preventive measures are focused on protection from infected mosquitoes. Use insect repellent containing DEET or picaridin, wear long sleeves and pants, and stay indoors or in screened-in places when possible.

If you are an older adult or have a condition such as diabetes or heart disease, you're at increased risk of severe disease. Consider avoiding travel to areas with ongoing chikungunya outbreaks.

When should I see a doctor?

See your doctor if you think you or a family member may have chikungunya, especially if you have recently traveled to an area where there's an ongoing outbreak. Your doctor may order blood tests to look for chikungunya or similar diseases. If you're sick with chikungunya, avoiding new mosquito bites will help prevent the virus from spreading.